Essiesmom

They will be fine. EM

I think what the OP means is the place at top left of every cruise line board which says ‘See posts about’ and gives you a drop-down menu of the ships of that line, but those two ships are missing…. EM

I just got off Elation today. She looks great. I had an inside ambulatory accessible cabin, for the seat in the shower. But in peeking, I saw it was just the same as the other insides except for the seat, and an emergency cord in the shower, and an emergency button at the head of the bed. I sailed from JAX 11 months ago and had the earliest checkin time, and the lines were long to get in and check in. This time I also had 1000am checkin, but there was no line at all. But this time, you walked in, had to set your bags down and step aside while the nice German shepherd sniffed them. I guess he was t interested in my box of Frosted Flakes. The last dry dock they gutted the aft lounge on Promenade deck, replaced it with 29 cabins, possibly all insides. There just isn’t/aren’t enough places to just relax, out of the crowds. The banquettes along Promenade , never that comfortable, now have a double row of tables and chairs. It had been awhile since I last sailed Fantasy class, maybe six years, and I forgot how limited the buffet choices were. But I never went hungry. Debarkation was amazing. I had expected this cruise to be my first ever trip out of the country without a passport, but miraculously my new passport showed up the day before sailing. Big advantage. They used my passport photo as my ID. When it came to debarkation, I was among the first off, being platinum, and at the bottom of the ramp, it was passports left, BCs right. I headed to the left, passport in hand, and they saw it and said ‘you can put that away, you won’t need it’. Stand on the red footprints for facial recognition. There was absolutely no one else in the area. Amazing. Don’t know if these were new, but there were two USB ports on each side of the bed. All for now. EM

This is what we see from the bridgecam on Sky

As far as binoculars go, if you haven’t already done so, go to a shop that sells them and try them out. The ones that have the longest range may be too heavy to be practical to hold, and add weight to your luggage. If you are not sure where to go, try army/navy surplus, Bass Pro, Cabelas, places that sell hunting stuff. Decide what you want and then buy on Amazon if price is better. EM

I boarded a cruise In Jacksonville last Thursday. I entered the terminal building and before I could advance to security /checkin, I had to put my bags down and let the cute German shepherd sniff them. Apparently he wasn’t interested in my box of Frosted Flakes…because I was allowed to continue. EM

Actually, I find a balcony a waste because I seldom use it. I’m happy with any cabin that they will sell to a solo. Sometimes a TA or cruise line rep will sell it to you, but you can’t book it online. Especially last minute cruises. Any cruise with a medium to small ship, good beds, and decent food. And no requirement to participate in anything but the muster drill. None of the behemoth ships. Don’t want to spend half my day getting from one venue to another. EM

Easy way to tell. A month to six weeks (or less) from cruises that interest you, try to book a cabin as a single. If they come up not available, it’s pretty full and they don’t want to sell the remaining cabins to solos. Believe me, I’ve tried. EM

Different policies relating to what? EM

The shorter the cruise, the more kids there will be, especially if it is over a weekend. And especially if it is over a holiday. And an interesting observation is that the shorter cruise may be more expensive than a longer, because there is more demand. carnival runs a 5-5-4 cycle from Jacksonville, and the four day is more expensive as it runs Thursday thru Monday am. I just got off that one today and there were a lot of children. EM

All of the NCL ships we see in the canal allow people on the bow except NCL Sky. And it looks like all are invited. EM

Well, miracles do happen…a day after they said it was mailed, it showed up in my mailbox. And I sail tomorrow. Guess I won’t be trying out my birth certificate after all. EM

And another suggestion, if you really have an interest in Venice. Read some of Donna Leon's mystery books based in Venice. Comissario Guido Brunetti. They give some insight on how gov't and politics work in Italy. Also, he walks all over Venice, and you might want to follow his footsteps. The books are available for Kindle/Kindle app which is where we read most of them. there is also a companion book Brunetti's Venice, following his journeys through the city. EM

Best for you to ask this on the board here for Viking Ocean, located under Cruise Lines P-Z. Lots of Viking regulars there to help you out. I gather you are on the 14 night cruise? First, I would suggest you get a copy of Rick Steves’ Mediterranean Cruise Ports. It is written to help you plan and do excursions on your own. Many ports do not require an excursion…Kotor comes to mind. lovely place to wander. Venice will depend on where you dock. If it is Marghera, I recommend you take whatever excursion that gets you into the city. It may be a ferry across the lagoon. Since you are there two nights, I also recommend his Venice guidebook, or other similar. Also visit the Ports of Call boards here for the Med. EM

Without knowing your daughter, I won’t make any suggestions there. But I will suggest for questions about holidays on MSC and Seascape, you visit the board here for MSC. EM

I don’t believe anyone boards early, no lines form, because it it pretty much dependent on when the buses and train get there, with the schedule for the tunnel. EM

Yes, but likely there is transport from the airport to wherever they are checking in for Colon. We need someone to come back and tell us how they handle that. EM

Update: today, one day later at 5:59 pm I have an email that my passport has shipped. I guess money talks. EM

No, I don’t remember what that color was, but it is my favorite neutral. I also have worn a lot of antique tan, shown here next to what I think is copper metallic. They also make the same shoe with a different decoration, and here I have the metallic navy. You really should try to find an SAS factory store. They have other styles of sandals, but these are the best for me . They are expensive, but nearly indestructible. Years ago I had an old pair and painted them brown (they started as antique tan). I wore them on an expedition in the Amazon, portaging canoes in the river, and they survived. EM

The only thing that will cause a person to pack less is exhaustion and frustration in dragging all that luggage through the airport or to the ship. That sealed it for me, even though my luggage was a medium suitcase, a carryon size, and a backpack. This was for a 27 day B2B San Diego to Harwich, two days London, four day cruise on Cunard, three days in Venice before 12 day cruise, then fly home. Now it’s a carryon and a backpack no matter how long the journey. But then, if one is driving to the port, the limit is what you can fit in the vehicle. EM

The cruise may not leave until evening, but they will start boarding new guests as soon as the old ones are off. Read some of the other threads here, and maybe on the NCL board. People have reported there is a place they are checking guests in and then busing them to the ship. Is there a roll call for your cruise? What are people there saying?

I often wear a pair of sneakers by SAS (San Antonio Shoes). I have them in half a dozen colors, style is Tour Mesh. But I also tour in SAS sandals, my favorite style is Huarache: But my all time favorite, most comfortable sandal is the Patricia wedge, by crocs. Yes, crocs. This is my reserve pair, little worn. My original pair is 12 years old and walked all over the Med. two years in a row.

There is a Panama Canal cruise Emerald Princess being blogged on the Princess board. EM

The picture was taken on Pride, deck 4. 4K cabins are special to the Spirit class. They are classed as inside cabins, but they have floor to ceiling windows looking out at lifeboats. The window used to be French doors that actually opened, but they have all been sealed. Your cabin is under the spa, and I don’t know what the gray areas are. But the running track is above you so there might be noise, depending on how early people get out to run. EM

I think you may be able to pre-register them online, but the most important thing I understand is to make sure to attend to first night orientation. That session everyone is new, there are no outsiders. EM